[Roles of cytokines and growth factors in atherogenesis]

In lesions of atherosclerosis, various cytokines and growth factors, which are generally not expressed in the normal artery, are upregulated. Several of them including PDGF, bFGF, HB-EGF, IGF-1, IL-1 and TGF-beta and TNF play key roles in atherogenesis by stimulating chemotaxis and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and production of extracellular matrix substances such as proteoglycans, collagen and elastic fibers by those cells. Endothelial cells and macrophages are also the targets as well as the sources of those cytokines and growth factors. The production of those cytokines or growth factors are regulated by molecules of each other or by themselves forming a complex cytokine network. Understanding and control of the roles of those cytokines in vascular walls will provide an insight on the mechanism of atherogenesis and contribute to the development of better ways to its prevention.